Sprinkler



Nov. 8, 1955 L. H. THOMPSON 2,723,157

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LEE H. T MPSON iWW/M Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Jan. 26, 1952 L. H. THOMPSON SPRINKLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LE'E: H.THOMPSON E WM/M p TTU/ /wa United States Patent 2,723,157 SPRINKLER Lee H. Thompson, Portland, Oreg. Application January 26,1952, Serial No. 268,407

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-18) This invention relates 'to improvements in lawn sprinklers and more particularly to improvements in rotary sprinklers of the type adapted to produce patterns of spray having straight line boundaries.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler which produces rectangular patterns of spray and which has a minimum number of parts so that it is simple in operation and may be manufactured at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler having a volume control member which may be readily removed and inserted in said sprinkler to provide different patterns of spray.

The present invention may be used to sprinkle large areas wherein a plurality of sprinkler heads are mounted at spaced intervals on a pipeline; or the invention may be used in a single riser sprinkler to sprinkle small areas around the home such as lawns or gardens. If used for the latter purpose, it may be mounted on a base having an upright standard whichmay be moved from place to place. Regardless of the area to be watered, the pattern of the spray produced by the sprinkler is rectangular in shape so that all parts of the area may be watered without considerable overlapping. Such overlapping is unavoidable when a sprinkler is used which produces a circular pattern of spray. A further advantage of a sprinkler which produces a rectangular pattern of spray is that water may be projected along a straight line without watering adjacent areas.

A preferred form of the sprinkler comprises a riser housing having external screw threads so that it maybe threaded into a boss on a pipe line for irrigating large areas, or in an upright standard supported by a base member for irrigating small areas. The riser housing has a central bore to receive a tubular spindle having a slot in its lower end for the passage of water. The spindle carries a sprinkler head on its upper end and water under pressure is supplied to the sprinkler head through the spindle. The riser housing also has a counterbore to receive a removable volume control member adapted to cooperate with the lower end of the spindle to form a valve for restricting the flow of water therebetween. A sprinkler head of the rotatable type is mounted on the upper end of the spindle, and as the spindle rotates the slot in the lower end thereof moves in and out of registry with apertures in the volume control member. The apertures are tapered so that when the slot in the spindle is in full communication with one or more of the apertures, water is projected a maximum distance from the sprinkler head, and when the slot moves out of communication with the apertures, the flow of Water is gradually diminished to a predetermined minimum and water is projected a minimum distance .from the sprinkler head. By reason of the arrangement of the parts and the shape of the apertures in the volume control member, there is a continuous flow of water through the valve which decreases from a maximum flow to a minimum flow and vice versa as 2 the "spindle rotates. When the slot in the spindle 'rn'o'es into complete registry with the apertures in the volume control member, the flow of water steadily increases to a maximum to sprinkle the corners of a rectangular area. As the spindle ro't'ates to move the slot out of registry with the apertures, the flow of water approaches a minimum rate, the gradual change of the rate of new produced thereby causing the water projected from the sprinkler head to define an area having straight line boundaries. M I r The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of the-device. It is to be understood, howevf that the invention may 't'akfe o the'r forms, and that all such modifications and variations, 'within the scope offthe appended claims, which will occur to persons skilled in the art, are included in the invention.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a top 'plan view showing the sprinkler of the instant invention mounted "on a pipe line and showing in dotted lines a rectangular pattern of spray produced thereby; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the sprinkler;

Figure 3 is a sectibnal view taken on the line 3-'3 o'f Figure 2 showing the cooperative relationship of the spindle 'and volume control member; I

Figured is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing further cooperation of the slot the spindle and the apertures in the volume control member, the apeitu res 'in the volume control member being shownih dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a plan viewer the upper end of the volume control member removed from the riser housing and showing the apertures therein;

Figure 6 is a fragmeiitary sectional view of the spindle showing the construction of the lower end thereof;

Figure 7 is a central sectional view of a modified form of the invention having a volume control member threaded therein; I

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the volume control member of Figure 7 removed from the riser housing;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a further modification of the invention; 7 v

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a further modification; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Figure 10.

With reference to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred form of the invention used in connection with a pipe line 15. The pipe line 15 has a plurality of T-fittings 16 mounted at predetermined distances, one such fitting being shown. The T-fittings 16 have feet 17 to support the pipe with the risers in an upright position. I, I

Figures 3-6 show in greater detail the preferred form of the invention which comprises a riser housing 20 having external screw threads 21 by which said housing is mounted in the T -fitting 16 or a standard of an individual sprinkler; 'Ifhe riser housing 20 has an internal bore 22 and at the lower endthereof a counter bore, or reservoir, 23 forming a downwardly facing shoulder 24 on the inside of-the housing. Mounted in the housing 20 is a spindle 25 which carries a sprinkler head 26, Figures 1 and 2, of the type which rotates when fluid under pressure is fed thereto. The spindle rotates with the sprinkler head and the bore 22 of the housing 20 provides a bearing surface for said spindle.

Referring to Figure 6, the lower end of the spindle is closed by a wan 28 having a transverse slot 29 cut therein. A peripheral flange extends from the lower end of the spindle. A sealing ring or washer 31, of fiber or hard rubber, is mounted between the flange 30 and shoulder 24, Figure 3, to seal the bore 22 when water pressure is in the system and the spindle is being rotated.

Fitted in the counterbore 23 of the riser housing is a volume control member 35. This member comprises a disc 36 having an annular skirt portion 37 depending therefrom. The skirt 37 has a plurality of slots 38 cut therein so that the lower portion of the skirt may be spread outwardly before the member is fitted into the housing to cause the skirt to grip the inner walls of the reservoir 23 and provide a tight fit therebetween. The volume control member 35 abuts against the lower end of the spindle 25 and is held in such position by water pressure on the bottom surface of disc 36 and also by friction between the skirt and the walls of the counterbore 23. The disc 36 is provided with four radially extending tapering slots or apertures 39, best seen in Figure 5. These apertures converge at the center of the disc, providing a central opening 40.

In operation of the sprinkler, water under pressure enters through the fitting 16 and into counterbore or reservoir 23, the pressure of the fluid urging the volume control member upwardly against the lower end of the spindle 25. The central opening in the disc 36 is in constant registry with the slot 29 in the spindle, so that there is a minimum flow of water through the valve, which is determined by the size of the central opening 40 and the width of the slot 29 in the spindle.

As the sprinkler head and spindle rotate, the slot 29 passes over the radially extending elongated apertures 39 in the volume control member 35, and then over that portion of the disc between the apertures. The volume of water entering the spindle gradually increases as the slot 29 approaches registry with the apertures 39 and diminishes as the slot moves out of registry with the apertures. When the slot 29 is in the position shown in Figure 4, the rate of flow is at a minimum and water is projected the shortest distance from the sprinkler head. As the spindle rotates, the slot 29 moves toward complete registry with two of the converging apertures 39, the taper of the apertures allowing the flow of water gradually to increase until a maximum flow is reached when the slot is in registry with two of said apertures. In such position the water is projected the farthest distance from the sprinkler. The flow of water from the minimum to maximum positions, or vice versa, being gradual, the area wetted thereby is defined by straight line boundaries.

It is apparent that the apertures 39 and 40 in the volume control member may take other forms, and many different patterns of spray may be produced. The slot 29 may extend only half the diameter of the spindle 25 and patterns of spray of irregular outline may then be produced by providing a pattern of apertures covering but one-half the meeting surface of the volume control member. For example, in Figure 5 the opening in disc 36 may have three radii, or the apertures may be of a different size and shape, and with a slot extending half the diameter of the spindle, the area sprayed will be controlled by the size and shape of the apertures. It will be understood that a volume control member and spigot of this construction is for use with a sprinkler head having but a single spray arm.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the riser housing 201: has a bore 22:: and a counterbore 2311 provided at its low-er portion with screw threads 45. A downwardly facing shoulder 24a is formed between the bore 22a and the counterbore 23a and serves as an abutment for the washer 31 carried by the spindle 25. A volume control member 35a has threaded skirts 37a which engage the screw threads for mounting said member 3511 within the housing- 20a. The member 3511 has an upper end 36a provided with a bore 47, a counterbore 48 forming a shoulder 49 therebetween. Removably mounted in said bore 48 is a disc 50 having a peripheral flange 51. The disc 50 is adapted to fit snugly into the bore 48, and the flange 51 is adapted to abut against the shoulder 49 when the disc is in place as shown in Figure 7.

The removable discs 50 are provided with apertures 53, and water flowing therethrough enters the spindle through slot 29. The apertures may be of various shapes and sizes and be arranged to produce a desired pattern of spray. Figure 8 shows apertures 53 formed as sectors of a circle, the ends of the sectors approaching the corners of a square outlined by the chords of the respective sectors. In such an arrangement the slot 29 will register with two of the apertures at a time, this position producing a maximum flow of water through the sprinkler. It is important that the top surface of the disc 50 be slightly below the upper surface 36a of the member 35a so that a recess 54 is formed in the top of the member 35a. The recess 54 provides a shallow reservoir between the disc 50 and the bottom end of the spindle so that water will flow through the sprinkler at all times, with a maximum flow when the slot 29 is in registry with two of the apertures 53. When the volume control member 35a is mounted in the housing 20a, it is threaded to abut against the bottom of the spindle and then backed away slightly to allow the spindle to rotate freely. A pair of notches 55 are provided on the bottom edge of the skirt 37a to be engaged by a screw driver for inserting or removing the volume control member. The apertures may be so positioned and shaped that the slot 29 will be in communication with one or more of the apertures at a time, thus obviating the necessity of the recess 54.

It is apparent that in this modification the volume control member 35a may be readily removed with a screw driver. The disc 50 is fitted in the bore 47 and may be knocked out when desired. Different spray patterns may be produced, as desired, by inserting discs having difierent arrangements of apertures. A principal advantage of this arrangement is that the discs may be formed of relatively thin material and the apertures may be punched out in the field with a special tool to provide a spray pattern to fit a particular need.

A further modification is shown in Figure 9. In this embodiment there is shown a T-fitting 16a supported by feet 17a. This fitting has a bore or restricted passage 58 and a counterbore 23b forming an upwardly facing shoulder 59 therebetween. A rubber washer 60 seats on said shoulder and carries thereon a volume control member or disc 63. Screw threaded into the fitting 16a is a riser housing 2% having an internal bore 22b which serves as a bearing surface for the rotatable spindle 25. The spindle is provided with a peripheral flange 30, and seats on the disc 63 which may have a plurality of apertures to control the flow of water into the slot 29 of the spindle as said spindle rotates so that the sprinkler head will produce a rectangular pattern of spray. A sealing ring or washer 31 is carried on the flange 30, the flange 30 being loosely fitted between the lower end of the housing 20b and the disc 63 so that the spindle can rotate freely in said housing.

The disc 63 preferably has slots cut or punched therein similar to the disc 36 shown in Figure 5, but other arrangements of slots may be cut or punched therein, as desired, to permit the fiow of a greater or lesser volume of water or to produce different patterns of spray. It is desirable that there be a flow of water through the sprinkler at all times, and to accomplish such purpose a thin ring-type washer may be placed between the disc 63 and the spindle to provide a central space or reservoir therebetween. Such a washer would not be necessary if the disc had slots 39 and a central opening 40 as shown in Figure 5, but if a different pattern of apertures is employed, and the slot 29 is not in registry with at least some of the apertures during any part of its rotation, it is necessary to provide the space between the spindle and the disc 63 to permit the flow of the minimum amount of water into the spindle.

In Figures and 11 there is shown another modification of sprinkler construction comprising a riser housing c having a bore 220 and a counterbore 230 in its lower portion, said bores providing a downwardly facing shoulder 64 therebetween. The housing has internal threads 65 to receive a bushing 66 having external threads 67. A bore 68 is provided in the bushing 66 and provides a bearing surface for a rotatable spindle 70.

The spindle 70 is tubular and extends substantially to the bottom of the riser housing 200. It is provided with a peripheral flange 71 carrying a washer 72 which is adapted to abut upwardly against the lower end of the bushing 66 to limit the upward movement of the spindle when the sprinkler is in operation. Below the flange 71, the wall of the spindle is slotted as at 74, a pair of slots being spaced 180 degrees apart although more slots may be provided. For example, the spindle may have four slots spaced 90 degrees around the periphery thereof to produce the same results as the pair of slots 74 shown in the drawing but permitting a greater flow of water through the spindle.

Tightly fitted in the counterbore 230 is a volume control member 76 having a substantially square central opening 77 as shown in Figure 11, so that the corners thereof form reservoirs to supply water to the spindle 70 through slots 74, the upper end of said volume control member abutting against shoulder 64 in the housing. The spindle is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the opening 77, Figure 11, so that it will freely rotate therein, and also so that water will enter the spindle through the slots 74 when the slots 74 are directed toward the inside walls of member 76, as shown. As the spindle rotates, the slots 74 move toward the corners of the opening 77, whereupon the flow of water is gradually increased until a maximum flow is reached when the slots 74 are diagonally aligned with two of the corners. The water will thus be projected a minimum distance when'the slots are in closest proximity to the walls of the control member, and then a maximum distance when the slots are aligned with the corners thereof, and vice versa, and the boundaries of the area sprinkled will consist of straight lines. A plurality of longitudinal grooves 78 are provided in the member 76 to form auxiliary passageways so that water can flow upwardly and enter the opening 77 from the upper end of the control member, thus providing a greater flow into the spindle. The upper end of the control member 76 is cut back in the vicinity of the grooves 78 so that the grooves will not be stoppered by the downwardly facing shoulder 64.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a housing, a tubular spindle rotatably mounted in said housing, the upper end of said spindle carrying a sprinkler head and the lower end of said spindle extending into said housing and terminating in an end wall, means defining a diametral slot in said end wall coextensive with the diameter of said spindle for admitting water to said spindle, a volume control member mounted in said housing comprising a disc mounted substantially in face to face relation with the end wall of said spindle, a plurality of apertures in said disc for directing water from a supply pipe through said slot to said spindle, means for adjusting the position of said volume control member with relation to said housing to vary the distance between said disc and the face of said end wall to provide a continuous flow of water from the volume control member to said spindle, the end wall of said spindle comprising one valve element and said disc comprising a second valve element whereby as said spindle rotates in said housing and said slot moves over the face of said disc said apertures are opened by said slot and closed by the solid portion of said end wall for varying the flow of water through said slot and sprinkler head.

2. A sprinkler comprisinga housing, a tubular spindle rotatably mounted in said housing, the upper end of said spindle carrying a sprinkler head and the lower end of said spindle extending into said housing and terminating in an end wall, means defining a diametral slot in said end wall coextensive with the diameter of said spindle for admitting water to said spindle, a volume control member threadedly engaging said housing for adjustment relative to said housing to vary the distance between said disc and the end wall of the spindle to provide for a continuous flow of water from the volume control member to said spindle, said volume control member comprising a disc mounted substantially in face to face relation with the end wall of said spindle, a plurality of apertures in said disc for directing water from a supply pipe through said slot to said spindle, the end wall of said spindle comprising one valve element and said disc comprising a second valve element whereby as said spindle rotates in said housing and said slot moves over the face of said disc said apertures are opened by said slot and closed by the solid portion of said end wall for varying the flow of water through said slot and sprinkler head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,618,538 Kittinger Feb. 22, 1927 1,968,396 Hollingsworth July 31, 1934 2,002,178 Henry May 21, 1935 2,305,210 Wahlin Dec. 15, 1942 2,560,662 Rieger July 17, 1951 2,595,114 Wieseltier Apr. 29, 1952 2,600,987 Gallice June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 130,743 Australia Jan. 4, 1949 

